Maxx Crosby’s praise for Bears’ QB Caleb Williams could end up meaning more than simply a mutual compliment
He’s earning the respect of some of the elite players in the NFL.
Going into the game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chicago Bears were well aware of the game-wrecking impact pass rusher Maxx Crosby would bring to the table.
Containing him ended up being an even more difficult challenge after right tackle Darnell Wright was ruled out going into the weekend, opening the door for Theo Benedet to make his first career start.
As expected, Crosby immediately started wrecking drives against the Bears’ offense by putting pressure on the quarterback and even coming away with three total pass deflections, including one he hauled in after the tip for an interception.
After the game, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made sure to give Crosby his flowers.
“They got a hell of a player over there. He’s probably the best player that I’ve ever played against so far in my career,” Williams said. “As I said, they got a hell of a player. Understanding that coming into the game, I tried to get the ball out as fast as possible and get it to my guys.”
Maxx Crosby made sure to show mutual respect to Caleb Williams after Week 4 matchup
“Hearing that from a really good player is cool. Our match up was all day,” Crosby said on Monday. “I mean all day we’re going back and forth, and he’s a competitor, bro, I’ll give it to him. He didn’t back down, he kept getting back up and kept trying to make plays. He definitely earned my respect. He’s a competitor, and he’s hard to tackle. He makes plays happen.”
Williams certainly didn’t back down from the challenge despite the early struggles and showed a lot of veteran leadership as he continued to roll with the punches and ultimately rallied the offense to take the lead on the final offensive drive of the game.
“I feel more comfortable in those moments. My heart rate drops, everything kind of settles in, and at the got to have it moments,” Williams explained on Monday. “I think I’ve done a good job with that over my career in those got to have it moments. I think it comes from the hard work throughout the week and the belief in my teammates.”
Some of the league’s elite defenders, like Crosby, are starting to see that ability in Williams’ game firsthand and giving him high praise for his play and ability to lead his team. That kind of mutual respect can go a long way when it comes to earning end-of-season awards.
Take Pro Bowl voting, for example. Pro Bowl selections are determined by the consensus votes of fans, coaches, and fellow players. So, earning respect from your peers is important. Just ask Bears’ cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2024 because of the coaches and players, not the fans.
Based on the last two games, Williams is certainly playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level if he can sustain that play coming out of the bye week. Three quarterbacks from each conference make the cut, and the NFC has plenty of deserving candidates already, like Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Jordan Love, Dak Prescott, and Jalen Hurts.
Caleb Williams 2025 Stats & Facts
- 927 passing yards (5th in NFC)
- 8 passing TDs (T-2nd in NFC)
- 97.8 passer rating (6th in NFC, min. 4 starts)
There are still three quarters of a season to play, but Williams is currently playing at a high level and starting to earn some respect from some of the top players in the league.
Chicago Bears News
‘This is where we go win the game’ — Caleb Williams’ clutch leadership sealed a late victory for the Bears against Raiders
Massive moment for QB1.
